Plumbing for dummies

Welcome to our section on plumbing for dummies.

It is my aim to present (minor and not so minor) plumbing issues in an easily understood way sooo.....

that when you leave here, you'll be able to take on those plumbing jobs with confidence.

Get your tools on the ready and lets go.

A check for toilet leaks.

Today you'll discover one of the biggest silent water guzzlers of the house hold (No it's not the neighbours camel)

It's your innocent looking toilet suite.

The reason its leaking goes unnoticed, is the water trickles down the bowl soooo quietly its barely visible.

The two ways I suggest for my customers to check are

1. Take the lid off your cistern and put 10 drops of food coloring in. Leave for 10 minutes and then check contents of bowl.(The cistern is the top part of your toilet that dumps the water and the bowl is the part that recieves the water.

2. If the bowl water is now coloured, you have discovered a leak.

See how plumbing for dummies is going to save you a bomb?

Either call a plumber or click here to learn how to repair The next way to check for a toilet leak isn't nearly so colorful.

1. Take a small ball of toilet paper and hold it against the back of the toilet bowl. ( make sure the bowl hasn't been flushed for at least 10 minutes.

2 If the paper stays dry your ok. But if its wet... ring a plumber or

Cleaning that blocked shower nozzle.

You'll increase its flow by unblocking all the stuffed up jets.

Take the shower rose down by undoing just the head part of the rose. (try and leave the stem that goes into your wall in place.)

Most roses have a screw or back nut that hold the rose in place.

Simply unscrew and place the head in to a bowl of vinegar, leave for about a quarter of an hour then scrub parts with a firm scrubbing brush. Reassemble and turn water on.

If your hesistant about taking the rose head off, try1.Filling a plastic bag with vinegar.

2 Place head of rose in bag.

3 Tye the bag ends around the rose stem to hold in place. Leave for a 1/4 hour then attack with scrubbing brush.When ready turn water back on.

Keep your laundry and kitchen wastes running sweet

PREVENTION

Educate your children, grandmother, husband, wife and even the dog not to pour fat down the sink No way No how No never.

This helps enormously but fats still get deposited by washing your plates, pot and pans every day. This just can't be helped.

"So what do you want me to do? Eat off dirty plates? "

No. There's a simplier solution.Once a week fill your sink with straight hot water and let it go immediately.

This heavy flush out with hot water, on a regular basis, will keep you pipes fat free.

The same goes for your laundry tub.

At least once a week do a hot wash to discourage suds build up. If plumbing for dummies has whet your appetite for more plumbing come with me to plumbing-troubleshooter.com